‘LEGO Movie’ Video Game Announced; Coming February 2014

Few video game franchises are as profitable and prolific as the modern day LEGO license. Following eight years of sub-par plastic action, the series’ really began to hit its stride with the release of 2005’s critically acclaimed LEGO Star Wars. Developed by British-based Traveller’s Tales, this one title did more than just succeed, it established a lucrative, iterative formula – a ready-made mould into which any other license could and would be poured.

From Marvel to The Lord of the Rings, and the Harry Potter franchise, the LEGO license has been churning out quality tie-in titles for the better part of a decade. With so much attention being paid to outside influences, it’s about time the brick building phenomenon had the chance to reflect, catch some quality “me time” and treat itself. The result is The LEGO Movie Videogame.

Scheduled to release alongside the new movie in February, 2014, TT Games‘ latest take on the LEGO universe follows the filmic adventures of Emmet, an everyday mini-figure granted special, accidental importance. Featuring over 90 characters, as well as 15 locales taken straight from the film, The LEGO Movie Videogame also promises to up the series’ authenticity, with a brand new, all-LEGO animation style. That means no more off-putting background animations, in which smooth and semi-realistic buildings clash with studded brickwork.

This time around, every building, landscape and vehicle is constructed out of virtual LEGO, lending the game an enormous, practical believability. In short – if your real life toybox was big enough, you could build this. Old school sets, including the classic Cowboys and Indians adventures, deep sea diving, pirate and modern city packs all make an appearance, with many more likely to arrive as the game inches ever closer to release.

Gameplay appears to remain largely unchanged from previous entries, though super-destructible environments are a possibility, thanks to the new LEGO-made buildings. TT is also touting a new ‘Master Builder’ ability, though just how this system will operate remains unknown. It’s possible that the mechanic could put the power of building creation – previously handled by the computer, following a single button prompt — into the hands of the player, though this remains mere speculation.

It’s great to see the success of the LEGO gaming franchise being transferred to film, as the former likely opened the door for the latter. Has the LEGO license finally come full circle, creating tie-in titles for its own movie projects? How can TT Games expand upon the series’ increasingly familiar formula? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to check in with all of the latest LEGO news, right here on Game Rant.